Vet says there are four common cat breeds he would 'never own' as pets (original) (raw)

A vet has taken to TikTok to share his thoughts on some of the most popular cat breeds, and he's revealed the four he would never consider owning as a pet - and why

He wouldn't want to own a Bengal cat (stock)

A vet has shared the cat breeds he'd steer clear from as pets due to their behaviour and health issues.

Ben the Vet hopped onto TikTok to express his views on four well-known feline breeds, detailing his personal reasons for why he'd pass them over as household companions.

Emphasising that these are his thoughts and others might think differently, he led off with his opposition to Bengals. He commented: "They are beautiful-looking cats, they have gorgeous coats. I can see why people like them."

However, he said he wouldn't want to own one because they're actually a hybrid between a wild cat and domestic cat breeds. He said: "At the vets, they have a reputation for being quite aggressive. This is usually out of fear but they can be quite dangerous to handle. They're highly intelligent, they need a lot of stimulation and unfortunately, a lot of homes just aren't quite right for them."

Next on his list, he shared how he wouldn't want to own a Sphynx simply because he "prefers cuddling a fluffy cat". He went on: "Another breed I would never buy is a Scottish Fold cat. The reason is, their curly ears, which is their main feature, is actually because of a cartilage disorder."

He explained how this defective cartilage is also found in all of their joints, meaning they commonly develop painful arthritis at a young age. He says he wouldn't want to support the breeding of Scottish Fold cats because he doesn't want them to suffer.

Finally, taking the number one spot, he says he would never want to own a Persian cat because their flat faces cause countless issues.

He added: "I have seen Persian cats whose noses look inverted into their face and their eyes bulge beyond their nose. People don't realise they can struggle to breathe just as badly as some of the flat-faced dog breeds. It is for the same reasons on the whole - their nostrils are too small, all of the bones in their nasal passage are crowded together, and their tear ducts usually don't work properly."

While he highlights how there is a selection of breeders trying to reverse these problems, he says they're in a minority.

Commenting on his video, one user said: "The original Persian cat was so beautiful and I’m so upset we’ve bred them to this extreme." Another user added: "Poor Persians. People really need to open their eyes." A third user said: "My cat is Persian but bred to have an open face and has never had any issues thankfully." A final user said: "Justice for Sphynx cats."